Ira Wanasinghe, rendered a unique service to nation

On July 24, 1935, Wanasinghe Arachchige Elaris Perera Jayathillake Ralahamy and Isona Alahakoon were blessed with the birth of twins, Ira and Amara. They were fondly known to family and friends as Kera and Myne. Being born to a respectable family, they were well-cared for by their parents during their formative years.

Ira Beatrice Jayathillake, after completing her primary education, joined Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya, a reputed school in the country for her secondary education. After completing the Senior School Certificate, she pursued her ambitious career of teaching by joining the English Teacher Training College at Maharagama. After passing out as a trained teacher, she was appointed to Parakrama Maha Vidyalaya in Godagama. During her tenure as a teacher, she dedicated her time and knowledge to lead many generations of students in achieving their academic goals and to become useful citizens.

In 1960, at 22, with the blessings of her parents, Ira stepped into a new page in her life by joining hands with childhood friend and relative, Hamilton Wanasinghe, who at that time was a Captain in the Sri Lanka army serving in Jaffna.

The young and handsome Hamilton, a product of Ananda College, Colombo, was a keen sportsman and a Sergeant Major in the Cadet Corps during his school days. After completing his education, he pursued his lifelong ambition of serving the motherland by joining the army as an officer cadet and completed training at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst in UK. He was commissioned as an officer in the Sri Lanka Artillery as a Second Lieutenant.

In due course the skilful and intelligent young army officer, with the support and backing of his wife Ira, went on to hold almost all important positions in the Army, including Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Joint Operations Commander and the Secretary Defence from which position he retired in 1995.

The young and youthful Ira Wanasinghe was a pillar of strength to her husband, even during tough and challenging times. The ceremonial army, at the time her husband joined, gradually turned into a formidable security force with high responsibilities and risky undertakings. However, Ira encouraged her husband to continue his services despite its new challenges and she was behind her husband's success in his career. During the 1988/1989 JVP insurrection and the second Eelam war in 1990, when the security personnel were facing a situation of high risk where assassination of leaders of the country and senior police and military officers were the order of the day, Ira stood by her husband and provided support in her capacity as a dutiful wife.

Her family has rendered a yeoman service to the country. Her brother's sons, Captain Nalin Jayatilleke and Brigadier Bhathiya Jayatilleke, who was also her son-in-law and Major Panduka Wanasinghe, who was her nephew, laid down their lives to safeguard the sovereignty of the motherland. Although having faced several tragedies in the family, she encouraged their elder son Sanjaya to continue to serve the country.

As the then President of the Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Ira played a major role in every welfare programme for the army personal. She did not forget to look into the needs of the Panagoda Army Cantonments, pre-school, founded by the former Army Commander's wife Mala Seneviratne.

She led the dedicated wives of other senior military officers including Thilaka Waidyaratne, Lali Kobbakaduwa, Manel Wimalaratne, A M U Seneviratne, Asoka Tillekeratne and Hamangoda to render an dedicated service to the Ranaviru Sevana and other Ranaviru programmes. Ira Wanasinghe was largely instrumental in maintaining the wards in the Mulleriyawa Mental Hospital and launching a housing programme for disabled soldiers.

She spent the autumn of her life engaging in religious activities. She observed sil on every full moon poya day and set an example to her children Juthika, Shashika, Dharshika, Sanjaya and Diluka by following the principles enunciated in Buddhism.

She who led a great life rendering a unique service to the country and fellow men, passed away on April 12, 2011. She leaves behind her beloved husband, General Hamilton Wanasinghe and her five children.

May she attain Nibbana!!

Thompson A Vande Bona